BJPennDotCom Radio

Pablo Garza was a guest on a recent episode of BJPenn.Com Radio. The UFC featherweight talked to hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli about his win over Mark Hominck at UFC 154 and a potential drop down to the bantamweight division.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

So how’s everything going? You’re coming off of a big win off former title challenger, Mark Hominick. The two of you certainly put on a great fight. People always want to look at it like, Hominick just came off of three losses, that was his fourth loss in a row and they are right, he’s definitely in a struggle right now, but he fought hard. He’s going to be one of those guys that people are going to look back at and think, he gave Jose Aldo his toughest challenge so far. Hominick in that last round turned it up, he was pouring it on Aldo. Not a lot of guys have been able to do that, and you beat him. How does it feel to gain a victory over a tough competitor like Hominick?

Pablo Garza:

It’s going great. To tell you the truth, I just watched the fight, like literally about 5 mins ago, and it just seems like I’m watching myself in that video, and it doesn’t even feel like its me. It feels like a surreal moment. It’s Mark Hominick, one of my MMA heroes. It just hasn’t set in yet.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

Yeah, I can only imagine. Mark is a great guy. So many fighters look up to him, but I can’t help but feel for him, its his fourth loss in a row and fans want to see him get back on track. Hopefully the UFC doesn’t cut him and if they do let’s hope he wants to continue and get back in the UFC. We were talking about this when we started the show, that victory has really gotten you a lot of attention. We had had the editor of Fight! Magazine, Jim Casey, on our show the day after UFC 154 and we asked him who are some guys he was looking at doing some features with. You were one of the guys he mentioned right off the bat. He was saying, Pablo Garza really impressed me last night and he’s one of the guys I’m looking forward to doing some work with. How cool is that?

Pablo Garza:

That sounds really cool. I came off two losses, this was a fight where I really wanted to show everybody that I have been training my ass off and really been working hard at.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

Your record is pretty impressive and the two losses came against Dustin Poirier who is one of the toughest guys in your division and Dennis Bermudez; who is a tough guy and seems to be making improvements in every fight. After the fight you mentioned dropping down to bantamweight. Is that something you’re seriously considering? Or are you going to stick it out at featherweight and see how you make out there?

Pablo Garza:

Its something I’m seriously considering, otherwise I wouldn’t have said it. It’s something my coaches and I have been talking about. I’ve been talking a little bit with Mike Dolce about him helping me make 135 if I do decide to drop down. I think if I make 135, not trying to sound big headed or anything, I think I could be top 5 contender in the bantamweight division. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can make a run for the title for sure at 135. I think if I can make the weight then I’m going to do it.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

I think there’s a lot of people who believe you can still fight at 145 and be a top 5 contender. But obviously if you feel more comfortable at 135 you have to do what you feel is best for your career. For me, whatever weight class you compete at, I’ll be watching you, you’re a very exciting fighter. Can you give us a little bit of background information?

Pablo Garza:

In high school I was in track, football, baseball and basketball. Every part of the year I was playing some type of sport. Most of the time I was playing two sports at the same time. I played college basketball until I started learning MMA, I never wrestled a day in my life until I began training in MMA about 5 years ago. I’m 5 years into learning MMA and I’m in the UFC. I got started because a brother in law of mine did some boxing and I asked him where the nearest boxing gym was and he showed me. About a month into it I met some guys that trained in MMA. I ended up going to the their gym which was more like a club. There were wrestlers, kickboxers and some knew a little bit of jiu jitsu. We all got together and taught each other. I did that up until I met my current coach, Dylan Spicer. He had been training for a couple years at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy with Sean Sherk. He had moved to Fargo, North Dakota to open up a gym so I ended up moving along with him and I’m still there to this day.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

When you didn’t make it into the house for The Ultimate Fighter did that fuel you even more to get into the UFC?

Pablo Garza:

Yeah at the time it did. I thought I was good enough to be in the UFC and I lost by decision. I wish I could’ ve had one more round. I know that everything happens for a reason. I went from the WEC to TUF and then on to fight in the UFC. But who knows, maybe if I would have beaten Michael Johnson I would’ve lost when I was in the house. I’m definitely happy things have turned out the way they have.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

What weight do you walk around at in between fights?

Pablo Garza:

I’ve been asked that a bunch of times since I’ve gotten into the UFC, but I never tell anybody. It’s my secret and I don’t plan on sharing it anytime soon.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

What are your thoughts on Frankie Edgar vs Jose Aldo? Do you feel Frankie should’ve fought once at 145 before he received the title shot? Or do you feel after all he’s done and all the success he’s had, he deserved the shot?

Pablo Garza:

Yes, to the fact that he needed the title shot right away for the simple reason that he defended his title at 155 a few times and Frankie Edgar is no joke, he’s badass. He has the right to go straight for the title.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

What do you think about the fight overall? How do you see it playing out?

Pablo Garza:

I’m going to give the fight to Aldo. Aldo is a beast, I think he’s going to be bigger, faster and he has better striking. Aldo’s wrestling and jiu jitsu is going to be good enough to keep Edgar at bay. Jose Aldo is a bad dude.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

Coming up in just a few days the UFC will present UFC on Fox 5. When you first got involved with the sport did you see something like this happening? Did you envision the UFC being live on a national network?

Pablo Garza:

No not at all, I couldn’t even see myself in the UFC. I’m in the UFC right now, but when I’m sitting in my hotel room with all the fighters, like Carlos Condit, GSP, I’m like a fanboy like everybody else. I’m trying to get autographs. It’s crazy being considered in the same bracket as all these fighters. Five years ago if you would have asked me if I would be in the position that I’m in now, I would’ve told you you’re out of your mind.

BJPenn.Com Radio:

Thanks giving us your time, if there’s anything you want to say, give some shout outs or whatever. The floor is yours.

Pablo Garza:

I just want to give a shout out to the Academy of Combat Arts. Dylan Spicer, my coach and all of my other coaches. You can follow me on Twitter @PabloGarzaMMA and on Facebook.

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Shouted out after victory to the UFC masses, BJPENN.COM is the home to multiple time champion BJ Penn. After a decade of on-line operation BJPENN.COM has evolved into the most reliable destination for all your fighter interviews, fighter blogs and MMA/UFC news stories.